Back To School Product Roundup

If You're Heading Back To School, Pick Up These 20 Essentials First

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Fall means school is officially back in session, and in order to fully enjoy it and succeed you'll need some cool gear. It goes without saying (though I’m gonna say it anyway) that the way we shop for school now has changed leaps and bounds since the ‘90s.

First thing’s first: we no longer have to leave the house to amass a collection of books, binders, clothes, and supplies for college. Next, it seems people have finally gotten over the idea that their supplies have to be temporary or crappy. Finally, people have applied the concept of style to themselves as well, allowing us to take pride in the appearance of our dorms as well as our bodies inside and outside the classroom.

So, with that in mind, here are the 20 back-to-school-and-beyond items that will change everything you thought you knew about back-to-school shopping in the fall.

AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane

AVI-8

College is when you make the choice to leave the child in you behind — that’s why you need a timepiece that gives out that “I’m a grownup” vibe to everybody in its wake. The AVI Hawker Hurricane is a no-brainer; pulling its style from the aviation world, it’s just fancy enough for those making the jump from a simple weekender watch, yet totally devoid of pretension. A Japanese quartz movement with analog display gives this thing guts and will ensure you always give the right answer when somebody asks what time it is.

Dockers® Signature Stretch Khakis

Dockers

College conjures up images of sloppy students, but that doesn't have to be the case, you can add some class to class. Dockers® Signature Stretch Khakis features no-wrinkle technology and super-soft fabric, giving you a stylish look and a nice fit — dressing comfortably never looked so good. And if you're looking to land that internship opportunity of your dreams these Signature Stretch Khakis are your go-to pair, and how good you'll look and feel in them will definitely improve your chances.

Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker

Nespresso

If you think the need for coffee ends after you graduate, you’re dead wrong. You’ve only just begun to see where your new relationship can take you — which is why you need to treat that little brown bean with respect. Enter the Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker — a tiny-yet-powerful way to make piping-hot espresso in the comfort of your own space. Programmable buttons, pre-loaded pods, and a thermoblock heating element makes whipping up a cup of joe a total breeze.

Amazon Kindle Fire

Amazon

You’re too poor for an iPad, and you don’t want to lug around a heavy book on your commute — that’s why you buy an Amazon Kindle Fire. For $50, you get Wi-Fi, 8 gigabytes of space, and a 7” display to read books, watch Netflix, play games, or just troll Reddit from the comfort of wherever you choose. You can upgrade your space to 16 gigabytes or add a microSD card for up to 128 gigabytes of additional storage… because you’re all about taking it to the limit.

Ideal Notebook

Coop Hewitt

On the other hand, if you’re an analog kind of person — you know, the kind of person who likes holding an actual book — then you’ll want to grab yourself an Ideal Notebook. Imported from Mexico, Ideal acts as the poor man’s Moleskine — mostly because it costs way less — and provides an alternative way to record your thoughts without spending upwards of $20 on a notebook.

UE Boom

UE

Despite what you think you know about whipping out your acoustic guitar and pumping out the jams, it should be known that not everybody is interested in hearing your take on Radiohead’s “Creep.” That’s why you need to go with a speaker like the UE Boom instead. Tiny, portable, powerful, it allows nearby people to connect via Bluetooth and play songs otherthan by Radiohead when you're trying to make new friends.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Samsung

Fall is all about starting anew, and if you're thinking of investing in a new phone, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is the first one you should set your eyes on. With it's curved back, thin design, dual pixel 12MP camera and its KNOX-enabled security, this smartphone is galaxies — apologies for the pun — ahead of any other phone on the market today.

Master & Dynamic MW60 Headphones

Master & Dynamic

You might be the kind of person who thinks the music emanating through your dorm or apartment is as grating as nails on a chalkboard; that’s why you need a pair of heavy duty headphones to drown out the sound of… well, everything. MW60’s Wireless Over Ear Headphones are the supreme amalgamation of “form-meets-function.” Connecting via Bluetooth means there are no clumsy wires to detract from the experience, and the chrome-meets-leather look is everything you could ask for.

Dockers Men's Moritz Wingtip Oxfords

Dockers

It seems like the very last piece of the wardrobe people realize they need is a good pair of shoes. You’ve long since passed the time where you could wear a pair of Converse with a suit, which is why you need to invest in leather dress shoes to go with the occasions that warrant fanciness. Dockers Men's Moritz Wingtip Oxford is your classic wingtip, offering a rubber sole to give you the comfort you long for while standing or leaning gracefully against a wall.

Herschel Britannia Messenger Bag

Herschel Supply Co.

Perfect for going to class, a job interview or taking your laptop to the cafe, this messenger bag is the ideal mix of style and function. Herschel is great at making versatile bags for almost every occasion, and even if you decide to study abroad or take a trip, this makes for the perfect carry-on for any essentials you need to keep you entertained on a long flight.

Dollar Shave Club Subscription

Dollar Shave Club

The days of spending a ton of money on a razor are over. Thank everything that’s good and holy that we have subscription services like Dollar Shave Club around to help men everywhere stay fresh and clean. Spend $10 a month for a razor and refills, or splurge for some of the add-ons like easy shave butter, awakening body cleanser, and a plethora of hair styling goo — our word, not theirs. These guys take the thinking out of buying a razor and do everything for you.

Custom Suit From Indochino

Indochino

Do yourself a favor and don’t ask your dad (or grandpa) advice on where to buy a suit — they’re more likely than not going to suggest a place where the suits fit you like a parachute and you’ll be drowning in a sea of fabric faster than you can say “holy crap, I should’ve visited a tailor!” That’s where Indochino has everywhere else beat: these guys tailor everything to your body and make sure your suit fits perfectly. You can pick your style, fabric, cut, and even buttons to ensure you get the suit of your dreams.

Buck Mason White Tees

Buck Mason

If your collection of T-shirts happen to be stretched-out, oversized, and/or bought during a concert in high school… throw them all out. Well, I guess you should donate them — graphic tees and band tees have been long out of style; nowadays, it’s all about the clean white T-shirt. There is no piece of clothing more simple or iconic that a well-fitted clean white shirt. Everybody has their own preferred style, but we’re all about this simple crew.

Birchbox Men

Birchbox

Like Dollar Shave Club, Birchbox Man offers an array of sample-sized products for dudes to try out while offering the full-sized versions of said products on their site. You can customize your profile to tell the people behind Birchbox what you’re like and what you’re into and enjoy monthly presents like moisturizer, cologne, and socks. It’ll expand your palette and — if nothing else — provide you with a way to easily fill up your dopp kit.

Mister Pompadour Hair Products

Mister Pompadour

One of the very true stereotypes about college is that you’ll be stuck with a bunch of apes who couldn’t tell a piece of steak from a slab of cheese. Hygiene is of the utmost importance when you go back to school and Mister Pompadour is your all-encompassing brand when it comes to keeping yourself clean. These guys started with a line of killer styling powders, pastes, clays, and pomades, but have recently taken the deep dive into peppermint shampoo, conditioner, and bodywash. We’re not saying you smell bad… it’s just something you should keep an eye on.

Acer Chromebook 2

Acer

As resourceful as you think you may be, the fact of the matter is that you’re going to need a computer for school. Luckily, we live in a time when a personal computer runs under $200 and doesn’t weigh as much as a brick. For light lifting, you’re going to want to get a laptop as simple and straightforward as an Acer Chromebook, with 2 gigabytes ram, 16 gigabytes memory, and up to 9 hours of battery — for those especially late nights.

Harry's Travel Kit

Harry's

Everyone should invest in a nice dopp kit at some point, so why wait until you’re back in school to do it? This Travel Kit by Harry’s is a great starting point for those used to throwing their toothbrush into their backpack and going about their business. Cotton-nylon water resistant fabric will keep your stuff safe from the perils of a shared bathroom, while a patterned inside adds flair and style to a carry-on item you never usually think about.

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal

It’s a given that you’re going to gain weight in college — there’s a cafeteria, vending machines, on-campus convenience stores, and no parents nearby to tell you not to eat pizza for dessert. An easy way to maintain your weight — aside from self-control — is using a calorie-counting app like MyFitnessPal to keep track of everything you eat to ensure you don’t go overboard. Simply input your meals, log the results, and count how much you consume per day. You can set the app to give you the desired amount of calories for those looking to lose, gain, or maintain their weight.

Fatboy Lamzac

Fatboy

Because beanbag chairs are so 1995. The Lamzac is a dream for those looking to furnish their apartments or dorms without going the extra mile to, you know, actually purchase furniture. It’s quite an ingenious idea — all you do is unfold it, fill, seal, and sit. It comes in six different colors and can be used anywhere: Inside, outside, on the beach, at the park, or as a substitution for a bed in your living room when you’ve been told to stay out by your roomie.

Acorns

Acorns

It’s hard to put money management skills to use in the real world when there’s so much cool stuff for sale. How are students supposed to save money when they’re expected to buy books, food, clothes, and precious coffee? That’s where Acorns comes in — this app works by rounding every purchase you make up to the nearest dollar and invests all that loose change across 7,000 stocks and bonds to help maximize your return. It’s the easiest way for past-you to take care of future-you.